Corina Johnston, Labour Party local area representative is deeply concerned at the implications of the recent decision of the Progessive Credit Union to close their office in Donabate and is calling for a continued Credit Union presence on the peninsula.Johnston said: “The announcement that the Donabate office of the Progressive Credit Union is to close on 1st July 2021 has come as a major shock to its members and the wider community, especially as it seems that they were unaware that such an option was under consideration. This decision will have a serious impact especially on senior members who do not transact their business online and will now have to travel to their nearest office in Rivervalley, Swords, which has no direct bus service from the peninsula.” Johnston continued: “Donabate Credit Union was founded in 1968 and operated from various offices until their iconic Ballisk House was built and officially opened by President Mary Robinson in January 1996. The Credit Union has played an important role in the lives of its members and their families over the years.As a result of this decision, there will be no Credit Union presence in Donabate for the first time in 53 years. This is surprising given that Fingal County Council has designated Donabate as a growth area, with its population due to increase to over 20,000 over the next 10 years. Apart from the Post Office, the Credit Union remains the only financial institution within the parish.” Johnston concluded: “ While it seems from the replies received by Duncan Smith TD and I that the board intend to implement their decision, which will result in the closure of the office and the sale of Ballisk House, which was built as a result of the loans and shares of the members of the Donabate Credit Union over the years, I believe that it is in the interest of the members and the future growth of the Credit Union movement that a physical presence be maintained in Donabate especially with so many families moving into the area who would normally avail of the services of the Credit Union. In our correspondence with the Board of Directors we have urged them to take on board the views of the members and wider community by maintaining a physical presence on the peninsula”